Today is the Day!

My girl is so excited and we're going to have a great day!

We Are Not Alone!

Chris Tomlin has so many great songs! I love this one, and it came to mind last night as I was praying for a friend's soldier son who was going to be in harm's way. While we are never guaranteed physical safety 100% of the time, we do have the promise that He is with us!

I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

Wednesday Hodgepodge Freshness is Guaranteed!

It's Wednesday and time to join Joyce for the weekly Hodgepodge.

1. What question do you often ask yourself?

Which book in my stack scheduled to be reviewed first?

2. Do you grow roses? What's your favorite color of rose? Ever been given a dozen roses? Where was the prettiest rose or rose garden you remember seeing?

I don't grow roses. My favorite ones are yellow roses, and those were what we used in our wedding. My man has brought me a dozen roses several times. My favorites were my wedding bouquet, a mixture of yellow and white roses.

3. Do you read the freshness dates on grocery store products? Will you use eggs past their 'use by' date? Take medication that's expired? Buy a dented can?

I absolutely read the dates. I don't always use eggs by their dates, but I don't let them linger long. I am quick to toss most other things when they are past the date. I do use a little more discretion when it's a "sell by" vs. a "use by" date.

4. Should athletes be role models?

It's fine for them to be role models for athletics - for demonstrating how practice and perseverance pays off. I don't see why they should necessarily be role models for life or politics or anything else. (Same with celebrities, especially with politics. Why is it that just because someone makes a living as an actor or an actress or a talk show host, people think that person has more credibility in taking political stands?)

5. Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first explorers to reach the top of Mt. Everest on this date (May 29) back in 1953. What's something you hope to achieve in your lifetime?

Answering all of Joyce's questions. And learning all the ins and outs of my new phone.

6. What would you do if you had twenty acres of land and the money to develop it any way you choose?

I have no idea, but if you want to give the land and the money to me, I'll be glad to research this question!

7. If I invite you to a party with a 7 PM start time, what time will I actually see you there?

A few minutes before 7:00. Unless my man is invited, then we'll probably be there about 7:05. But if it's up to me, I'll always be 5 minutes early. Remember, on time is the same as being late!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Friday's the big day! Cue up Pomp and Circumstance. As my girl has been saying about everything else this week, "Today is the last Wednesday Hodgepodge that I will have a school-age child."

The Promise Box

The Promise Box
(Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors)
Tricia Goyer
(Zondervan)
ISBN: 978-0310335122
May 2013/336 pages/$14.99
With her heart – and her loyalty – on the line, can she let true love in her life?

Every year, young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive ‘resident’ status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Lydia Wyse, a book editor from Seattle who grew up Amish, returns to the small community of West Kootenai, Montana to give comfort to her father after her mother’s death.

She is drawn back to the familiar Amish ways after finding her mother’s most precious possession, a Promise Box of prayers and scripture. What her publisher sees, though, is an opportunity for a sensational ‘tell-all’ book about the Amish. Lydia soon finds herself falling in love with Amish bachelor Gideon Hooley. She wants nothing more than to forget her past and look forward to a future as an Amish bride. Will the pain of her childhood—and her potential betrayal of her community—keep her from committing her whole heart?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of one, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.
In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Tricia, along with a group of friends, recently launched NotQuiteAmishLiving.com, sharing ideas about simplifying life. She also hosts the weekly radio podcast, Living Inspired. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com and on Facebook.

MY THOUGHTS

I love visiting the fictional town of West Kootenai, Montana through the books of Tricia Goyer. She has crafted an unusual Amish settlement where the Amish and English are less at odds than in many Amish novels, as they respect the differences and encourage the similarities in their beliefs. This can be read as a stand-alone, although several characters from The Memory Jar appear throughout the story, making it that much more enjoyable. I particularly connected with Lydia in this book since she was a book editor. The idea of a Promise Box that Lydia's mother left for her is such a sweet idea and would be a great thing for anyone to do, Amish or not. Don't miss this sweet story about holding on to God's promises.

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her lastest novel, The Promise Box (Zondervan), by hosting an Amish Baking Box giveaway and connecting with readers during her June 12th Book Chat Party!

One "promising" winner will receive:

• Apron, hot mitts, and kitchen towels
  
• Amish baking items (rolling pin, pie plate, etc...)
• Sherry Gore's Simply Delicious Amish Cooking
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer 
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 11th. Winner will be announced at the "The Promise Box" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 12th. Connect with Tricia for an evening of Amish fun - book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Tricia will also share an exclusive look at the next book book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Promise Box and join Tricia on the evening of June 12th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Zondervan and Litfuse Publicity as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Heartbeat Away

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingA Heartbeat AwayAbingdon Press (May 1, 2013)
byS. Dionne Moore
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

S. Dionne Moore started writing in 2006. Her first book, Murder on the Ol’ Bunions, was contracted for publication by Barbour Publishing in 2008. In 2009 she moved on to writing historical romances as an outlet for her passion for history. In 2010 her second cozy mystery, Polly Dent Loses Grip, was a 2010 Carol Award finalist and she was also named a Barbour Publishing 2010 Favorite New Author. In 2011 her first historical romance, Promise of Tomorrow, was nominated a 2011 Carol Award finalist.

Born and raised in Manassas, Virginia, Moore moved to Greencastle, PA in 1993, then to Mercersburg in 2009. Moore enjoys life in the historically rich Cumberland Valley where traffic jams are a thing of the past and there are only two stoplights in the whole town.

For more information, visit her Website at www.sdionnemoore.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @sdionnemoore
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sdionnemoore
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/sdionnemoore

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a band of runaway slaves brings Union-loyal Beth Bumgartner a wounded Confederate soldier named Joe, it is the catalyst that pushes her to defy her pacifist parents and become a nurse during the Battle of Antietam.

Her mother's mysterious goodbye gift is filled with quilt blocks that bring comfort to Beth during the hard days and lonely nights, but as she sews each block, she realizes there is a hidden message of faith within the pattern that encourages and sustains her. Reunited with Joe, Beth learns his secret and puts the quilt's message to its greatest test—but can betrayal be forgiven?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Heartbeat Away, go HERE.


Watch the video:


AHeartbeatAway - Medium from S. Dionne Moore on Vimeo.

The Offering - Angela Hunt's Latest Must-Read!

The Offering
Angela Hunt
(Howard Books)
ISBN: 978-1439182055
May 2013/320 pages/$14.99
One innocent mistake . . . a lifetime of consequences.

After growing up an only child, Amanda Lisandra wants a big family. But since she and her soldier husband can’t afford to have more children right away, Mandy decides to earn money as a gestational carrier for a childless couple. She loves being pregnant, and while carrying the child, she dreams of having her own son and maybe another daughter. . . .

Just when the nearly perfect pregnancy is about to conclude, unexpected tragedy enters Mandy’s world and leaves her reeling. Devastated by grief, she surrenders the child she was carrying and struggles to regain her emotional equilibrium.

Two years later she studies a photograph of the baby she bore and wonders if the unthinkable has happened—could she have inadvertently given away her own biological child? Over the next few months Mandy struggles to decide between the desires of her grief-stricken heart and what’s best for the little boy she has never known.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With over four million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including The Nativity Story. Hunt is one of the most sought-after collaborators in the publishing industry. Her nonfiction book Don’t Bet Against Me, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Angela’s novel The Note (with sales of over 141,000) was filmed as the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movie for 2007 and proved to be the highest rated television movie in the channel’s history. Angela’s novels have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards, including the RITA, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the Holt Medallion. She often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences, and she served as the keynote speaker at the 2008 American Christian Fiction Writers’ national conference. She and her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs. In 2001, one of her dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest dog in America.

Find out more about Angela at http://www.angelahuntbooks.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

MY THOUGHTS

I am thrilled when I get the latest book from Angela Hunt, but I always wait just a bit after getting it before I read it, simply to enjoy the anticipation a little longer--especially since I know that as soon as I finish it, I'll be waiting again! The Offering was definitely worth the wait! This is Hunt at her very best: a character novel that pulses with emotion and keeps me as glued to the pages as if it were a nail-biting, haunting suspense. Each of the characters in this novel--from Amanda and Gideon to Gideon's large familia to the parents whose child Amanda carries--play a unique and important role in this rich story. Full of passion, this novel plumbs the many complexities of emotions that often accompany the quest to become a parent. While not preachy or overbearing, The Offering, is thought-provoking, eye-opening, and gave me much to ponder, even long after I reached its touching conclusion. This is definitely a must-read!


Angela Hunt is celebrating the release of The Offering with a Nook HD Giveaway and an Author Chat Party on Facebook {6/5}.

One winner will receive:

• A Nook HD
  
• The Offering by Angela Hunt 
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 4th. Winner will be announced at the "The Offering" Facebook Author Chat Party on June 5th. Connect with Angela for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Angela will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Offering and join Angela on the evening of June 5th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Howard Books and Litfuse Publicity as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Ray of Light

Ray of Light
The Days of Redemption, Book 2
Shelley Shepard Gray
(Avon Inspire)
ISBN: 978-0062204424
May 2013/288 pages/$12.99
Bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray brings inspirational romance to life in this sweet tale of love in the Amish community, Ray of Light, the second installment of her Days of Redemption series.

Roman Keim just wants a break from the family drama at his snowy Ohio home when he heads to an Amish snowbird community in Florida. There he meets Amanda Yoder and her daughter Regina who soon are warming his heart. But will Roman return to Ohio or will he stay and help the young widow embrace a second chance at love?

The author of the series Sisters of the Heart and Seasons of Sugarcreek, Shelley Shepard Gray delivers an honest, tender love story in Ray of Light, featuring the challenges of faith, family, and romance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sisters of the Heart, Seasons of Sugarcreek, Secrets of Crittenden County, and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail. Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com and on Facebook.

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed Daybreak (reviewed here), the first book in this series about a multi-generational Amish family, and Ray of Light is another charmiing tale. Both Roman and Amanda are thoroughly endearing and of course, Regina captivates everyone she meets, even if only through the pages of a book! Although Roman and Amanda are the focus, the rest of the family members' stories weaves throughout the book as each of them continue to deal with the long-hidden family secrets that are coming to light. While enough is explained that readers who missed the first book will grasp what is happening, this series is enjoyable enough that you won't want to miss a single book! I'm eagerly anticipating the final book, Eventide, coming in September!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Avon Inspire and Litfuse Publicity as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Blue Ridge Writers Conference - Selah Award Winners

Last night, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference presented their annual 2013 Selah Awards. Thanks to Crossway Books and Lifeway, I was able to watch the awards on a live webcast. Here are the winners:

CHILDREN

Crystal Bowman, My Grandma & Me
(Tyndale Publishers)


INSPIRATION & GIFT

(I'll add this one later; I don't remember who won this one.


CHRISTIAN LIFE
(Double First Place)

Allison Bottke, Setting Boundaries with Food
(Harvest House)

Linda Evans Shepherd, When You Need a Miracle
(Revell)


BIBLE STUDIES

Cheri Cowell, Parables And Word Pictures
(AMG Publishers)


YA FICTION

Eddie Jones, Dead Man’s Hand
(Zonderkidz)


NOVELLA

Marianne Evans, Finding Home
(Pelican/White Rose)


FICTION - FIRST NOVEL

C. Kevin Thompson, The Serpeant’s Grasp
Oak Tara

FICTION - CONTEMPORARY

Dan Walsh, The Reunion
(Revell)
(Received a perfect score from the judges)


FICTION - HISTORICAL

Dan Walsh, The Discovery
(Revell)
(Received a perfect score from the judges)


FICTION - ROMANCE

Rachel Hauck, The Wedding Dress
(Thomas Nelson)


FICTION - SUSPENSE

Ronie Kendig, Firethorn
(Barbour Publishing)
(Received a perfect score from the judges)


It was fun watching the awards live on my laptop, and it made me that much more excited about the upcoming Christy Awards, which I will be attending on June 24 in St. Louis!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to another week of the Hodgepodge! I always enjoy this mid-week energy boost! Thanks, Joyce

1. It's National Bike Week...do you own a bicycle? When did you last ride a bike?

I think my bicycle is still in the garage, but I haven't ridden since my kids were in elementary school.

2. What's something you learned in school that wasn't part of the curriculum?

That the "rich and beautiful" are often favored over the others.

3. What's a food you've never tried, but want to try? What's a food you've tried and will never try again?

I'm not particularly adventurous with foods, so I can't think of one I'm wanting to try. I've tasted both rattlesnake and alligator and I will be perfectly happy never to have them again. I also don't like venison.

4. Have you been more demanding on yourself lately or less? Why? Do you think that's a good trend?

A bit less, just because this has been such an emotionally draining spring due to my brother's sudden death, my sister's Alzheimer's, and my girl's pending graduation, to name just a few. I really have let some things go and have tried not to be Super Woman. It's a good trend in some ways; in others, notsomuch!

5. Who is your favorite book, movie, or TV show villain?

This is a hard one because villains usually get on my last nerve! I guess from a TV show, I'd say Q from Star Trek.

6. How concerned are you about identity theft?

Concerned enough that I'm careful, but not so concerned that I'm paranoid.

7. I saw this last question on Dawn's blog a couple of week's ago and asked if I could share. Everybody hop over and say hi, but first answer this...would you rather have an ordinary home in an extraordinary place or an extraordinary home in an ordinary place?

I'm thankful to have a home that it hasn't been ripped from its foundation. Ordinary is good enough for me for the home and the place!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm aching for the families in Oklahoma who have lost so much in the tornadoes. Praying God will wrap them in His arms and hold them close!

Follow the Heart

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingFollow the HeartB&H Books (May 1, 2013)
byKaye Dacus
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Humor, Hope, and Happily Ever Afters! Kaye Dacus is the author of humorous, hope-filled contemporary and historical romances with Barbour Publishing, Harvest House Publishers, and B&H Publishing. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, is a former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, and currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is a full-time academic advisor and part-time college composition instructor for Bethel University.

Kaye Dacus (KAY DAY-cuss) is an author and educator who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. A former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kaye enjoys being an active ACFW member and the fellowship and community of hundreds of other writers from across the country and around the world that she finds there. She currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, which she co-founded in 2003 with three other writers. Each month, she teaches a two-hour workshop on an aspect of the craft of writing at the MTCW monthly meeting. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is an academic advisor and English Composition instructor for Bethel University.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Set during the Industrial Revolution and the Great Exhibition of 1851, Follow the Heart is a “sitting-room romance” with the feel of a Regency-era novel but the fashions and technological advances of the mid-Victorian age.

Kate and Christopher Dearing’s lives turn upside down when their father loses everything in a railroad land speculation. The siblings are shipped off to their mother’s brother in England with one edict: marry money.

At twenty-seven years old, Kate has the stigma of being passed over by eligible men many times—and that was before she had no dowry. Christopher would like nothing better than to make his own way in the world; and with a law degree and expertise in the burgeoning railroad industry, he was primed to do just that—in America.

Though their uncle tries to ensure Kate and Christopher find matrimonial prospects only among the highest echelon of British society, their attentions stray to a gardener and a governess.

While Christopher has options that would enable him to lay his affections where he chooses, he cannot let the burden of their family’s finances crush his sister. Trying to push her feelings for the handsome—but not wealthy— gardener aside, Kate’s prospects brighten when a wealthy viscount shows interest in her. But is marrying for the financial security of her family the right thing to do, when her heart is telling her she’s making a mistake?

Mandates . . . money . . . matrimony. Who will follow the heart?


If you would like to read the first chapter of >Follow the Heart, go HERE

MY THOUGHTS

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. It is incomprehensible for me to imagine living in a society where a person's very worth and marital prospects depended more on the size of the family's bank account than on character qualities. Kaye Dacus has created a cast of endearing characters with the exception of cousin Edith, who made my blood boil, exactly as Dacus intended her to do. Sweet Cousin Florie somewhat compensated for Edith's haughty and conniving ways, however, and it was impossible not to adore her! The delightful story combines with a charming setting to make this novel a satisfying read. Put this one on your summer reading list and prepare to be swept away to another era.

Senior Sunday Song - for All of Us!

Yesterday was Senior Sunday at our church. . .and I think at every other church that I've heard about! LOL It's always a fun time to recognize and celebrate the graduating high school seniors. This year was a bit more poignant for me since my girl is one of the seniors! But I managed to just soak in and enjoy the special things they had planned for the seniors and their families during the breakfast, the Bible Study hour, and during the recognition in the worship service, and I didn't shed a tear!

One of the highly anticipated parts of this celebration is the video that our Youth Pastor puts together utilizing four or five pictures of each senior that the families have submitted. It's always fun to see the pictures of each of the kids as babies and throughout the years. And the big mystery is "what song will he use?" Some years, it has been an obvious choice - and a tear jerker! - such as the year Mark Harris had released Find Your Wings. I had even asked the Youth Pastor about it a couple of weeks ago, and he wasn't sure at that time what song he would use. Well, he found the perfect song, and I've posted it below. Not the video of our kids; I'm not putting that on the web, but you can mentally substitute pictures of your own kids or the teens in your church as you listen. Or just take this song for your own. It fits whether we are 18 or 48. I love Casting Crowns, and this is such a powerful reminder that God already knows our tomorrows!

When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory

‘Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

Knowing that He's already there makes it so much easier to deal with my girl graduating and heading off to college!

Always the Baker Finally the Bride

ALWAYS THE BAKER FINALLY THE BRIDE
Another Emma Rae Creation, Book 4
Sandra D. Bricker
(Abingdon Press)
ISBN: 978-1426732270
April 2013/352 pages/$14.99
In the first book, readers fell in love with Emma Rae and Jackson, and they’ve gotten more acquainted with them in the two books that followed. But now it’s time for the diamond to meet the road as Jackson fields an offer to sell The Tanglewood, a move that will uproot this high-flying family act once and for all. Get reacquainted with all of the lovable and quirky characters from the first three books as your favorite diabetic baker figures out if she’ll achieve her greatest goal of all: Will Emma, at last become FINALLY the Bride?

Purchase your copy:
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandra D. Bricker was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for 15+ years. She is now a best-selling, award-winning author of laugh-out-loud fiction for the inspirational market, and the mastermind behind the Another Emma Rae Creation series that started with Always the Baker Never the Bride. As an ovarian cancer survivor, she gears time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics and a cure.

Visit her Web site at www.SandraDBricker.com and her blog at http://sandradbricker.blogspot.com.

MY THOUGHTS

This is only the second book of this series that I've read, but I definitely want to go back and catch up! Emma Rae and Jackson and all the others at The Tanglewood are such a fun bunch of folks. They make me want to go back and get married all over again! Sandra D. Bricker has created the perfect recipe for a thoroughly satisfying read: heaping cups of love, generous splashes of humor, a dash of spice, and a few surprises combine to make this a delectable romance. And for the icing on the cake, a few recipes are even sprinkled among the chapters. Just don't dismiss this novel as being only for starry-eyed bride-to-be's: tender and amusing moments abound with characters of all ages, from Emma's Aunt Sophie to a ragamuffin eleven-year-old hotel "guest." I highly recommend this book and this series. You can read this one as a stand-alone, but I bet you'll go back and get the others!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Abingdon Press and Pump Up Your Book Promotions as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

NIV Real Life Devotional Bible for Women

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card Insight Notes author is:

Lysa TerKeurst

and the book:

NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women,
Insights for Everyday Life

Zondervan; Special edition (March 19, 2013)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lysa TerKeurst is a New York Times bestselling author and national speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith. She is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, author of 15 books, and encourages nearly 500,000 women worldwide through a daily online devotional. Her remarkable life story has captured audiences across America, including appearances on Oprah and Good Morning America. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and five children.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

This Bible will help you live up to your God-given potential. Insightful daily devotions written by the women at Proverbs 31 Ministries help you maintain life's balance in spite of today's hectic pace. Dive into the beauty and clarity of the NIV Bible text paired with daily devotions crafted by women just like you---women who want to live authentically and fully grounded in the Word of God.

MY THOUGHTS:

Lysa TerKeurst is known for her authenticity in ministry, so "Real-Life" is an appropriate descriptor within the title of this devotional Bible. Lysa and the other members of Proverbs 31 Ministries, which she leads, provide 366 devotionals which are sprinkled throughout the pages of this Bible. The devotionals can be read in three ways: 1) starting with the first one and continuing in order until the final devotional, 2) utilizing the Topical Index in the back to focus on a particular subject, or 3) reading the devotions by author as listed in the Index of Devotions by Author. However you choose to read them, these down-to-earth words from women who face the same struggles and triumphs as you do will encourage and inspire you.

Product Details:

List Price: $34.99
Hardcover: 1536 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; Special edition (March 19, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310439361
ISBN-13: 978-0310439363

AND NOW...SOME SAMPLE PAGES (CLICK ON PAGES TO ENLARGE):

Once Upon a Prince

Once Upon a Prince
(Royal Wedding Series)
Rachel Hauck
(Zondervan)
ISBN: 978-0310315476
May 2013/352 pages/$14.99
Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess—just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn’t going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon’s Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family’s tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna’s aid under the fabled Lover’s Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel’s coronation.

It’s the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God’s will or their own?




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as RITA-nominated The Wedding Dress and RITA-nominated Love Starts with Elle, part of the Lowcountry series, the Nashvegas series and the Songbird Novels penned with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Their novel Softly and Tenderly was one of Booklist's 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals. A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, she worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full time in 2004. Rachel serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker. Rachel writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan. Visit her webiste at rachelhauck.com/.

MY THOUGHTS

Once Upon a Prince is an endearing and delightful novel that tugged at my heart from the first scene when Susanna's long-time boyfriend breaks up with her. Rachel Hauck has created a winsome cast of characters who are easy to like--with a couple of necessary exceptions, that is! I loved watching Susanna and "Nate" meet and see their friendship develop, especially since she had no idea that he was a prince, and some of the situations that resulted are quite entertaining! As charming as this story is, its deeper beauty is woven throughout as Susanna and Nate grapple with the issue of who God created them to be and seek a greater Kingdom than the earthly one whose crown Prince Nathaniel will wear. Put this one on your summer reading list - highly recommended!


Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.

One "royal" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today.Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Hope to see you on the 28th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Zondervan and Litfuse Publicity as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”